OMG - why?

[kylee2katie]

I was cleaning the duck pen yesterday and had just filled the pool with clean, cool water - the ducks were very happy! So happy that "big momma" jumped in and started the mating ritual - head bobbing - funny quacking - flattening out, etc....my runner happily obliged her and climbed on top - the next thing I knew, my mallard drake flew in and jumped on top of him!!! My daughter was freaking out (so was I) so I went in the pen, thinking it would break it up - not the case...the mallard grabbed the runners neck, pulling out a hunk of feathers and pushed his head under water - keep in mind that the runner was on top of the pekin this whole time. I grabbed the mallard and literally pried his bill open and pulled him off and put him back outside...shutting the gate so he couldn't get back in.
Why is he doing this? What can I do? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

This is how ducks get drowned. Too many drakes trying to gang breed a hen can hold her head under water too long and drown her. About the only thing you can do is get rid of the extra drake or put him in another pen.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Yup, get rid of the extra drakes or get more hens.

 

[kylee2katie]

I have 4 other hens but they don't seem interested yet....also, at lunch when I went home, I found the same mallard drake on top of my runner drake - hen was out in the yard.....is this normal? Do I need to rehome the mallard or will this pass?

 

[suburbanduckmom]

Quote:
That sounds like he is trying to establish dominance.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
That sounds like he is trying to establish dominance.

Dominance but are you sure your runner is a male. Just because one duck mounts another, does not make the mounter a male. Females will also mount for dominance display.

 

[kylee2katie]

Quote:
That sounds like he is trying to establish dominance.

Dominance but are you sure your runner is a male. Just because one duck mounts another, does not make the mounter a male. Females will also mount for dominance display.

Positive he's a he...I've seen "it" when he runs his victory lap....

 

[bigstack]

Positive he's a he...I've seen "it" when he runs his victory lap....

LOL!!! I almost laughed out loud here in the office! That is too funny!!!

But yes dominance thing!

God Bless

and thanks for brightening my day!​

 

[kylee2katie]

Quote:
LOL!!! I almost laughed out loud here in the office! That is too funny!!!

But yes dominance thing!

God Bless

and thanks for brightening my day!

My 6 year old daughter was with me a couple of weeks ago and he was running his victory lap and she screamed for me to help him...when I asked her why, she said he had a worm eating his belly!!! Now that will make you stop in your tracks....then you realize what she is looking at - send her in the house for a bag of peas and hope she forgets the "worm"!!

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

kylee: The worm made my day. Oh, how funny, now.